September 2020 Vol. 55, No. 1

THE MOVEMENT: A Summer of Racial Reckoning by Carson He and Aaron Zhu In recent months, the phrase “I can’t Soon enough, thousands of demonstrators breathe” has become a rallying cry for social began organizing in cities across the country. and racial justice. Some peaceful protests gave way to vandalism, On May 25, , a 46-year-old looting, and fires. Demonstrations also led to Black man, was arrested outside a store in police confrontation as cops attempted to Minneapolis after allegedly using a disperse marchers using tear gas and rubber counterfeit bill. Floyd was handcuffed and bullets. In over two dozen states, the National pinned to the ground by Officer Derek Guard was activated, and many cities imposed Chauvin, who, for nearly eight minutes, curfew, leading to disagreements across party knelt on Floyd’s neck as Floyd repeatedly lines as to whether the nature of the protests said, “I can’t breathe.” Floyd died at the was justified. hospital that night, and Chauvin was later charged with second-degree . Video of the incident spread like wildfire online, sparking nationwide protests. At the heart of the protests was the Black Lives Matter Movement, started in 2013 after the acquittal of George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch organizer in Sanford, Herald Demonstrators in Boston, Massachusetts, protest the killing of Florida who fatally shot . George Floyd ______The protests also follow the deaths of As candidates prepare for the 2020 Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, who Presidential election this November, hard belong to an even longer list of Black lives discussions about systemic racism and race taken on the basis of dubious justifications. relations in the United States have become one The day after Floyd’s death, hundreds of of the many anticipated topics of discussion for protesters marched through the streets of Vice President Biden and President Trump on Minneapolis, condemning police brutality the debate stage September 29. and demanding justice for Floyd. Continued on Page 3 2 From the Editors-in-Chief:

Welcome back to EBHS? Well, we’re not sure if you’re reading this at school—so for our remote THE CLARION learners, welcome home? The school year always starts with STAFF 2020-2021 anticipation and uncertainty, but none have Editor-in-Chief Carley Doktorski begun quite like this. Normally, we’d talk about Editor-in-Chief Julia Maling the exhilaration of entering a classroom on the Executive Assistant Editor Srinidhi Ayalasomayajula first day and trying to find a seat close to your Executive Assistant Editor Clara Lee friends, or the excitement of the crowded Executive Assistant Editor Rothela Samadi cafeteria during the Activity Fair. This year, the Visual Editor Hannah Junn closest you can sit near your friends is six feet Visual Editor Austin Yang away, and the only crowding happening during Entertainment Editor Grace Wang the Activity Fair is you crowding your family’s Entertainment Editor Sabrina Portnoy bandwidth as you watch different clubs’ videos Opinions Editor Nikhita Iyengar (check out The Clarion’s video made by one of Opinions Editor Aaron Tsui our amazing visual editors, Hannah Junn!). News Editor Carson He You’ve probably heard this a million times News Editor Aaron Zhu already, but we are living through history. Features Editor Devin Hecht There are ongoing calls for racial justice, a Features Editor Mara Zaki global pandemic, and in a few weeks, a Sports Editor Minta Caune presidential election. Sometimes, the world Sports Editor Benjamin Kim around us seems so colossal that it feels like it’s Advisor Mrs. Alyson Eliades impossible to make an impact, but everything Advisor Mr. Ryan Hynes we do matters. By doing things like researching and learning how you can help others, wearing a mask, and, if you’re 18, registering to vote, you can make a difference. This certainly isn’t the way that any of us expected to begin the school year, but we hope that eventually, we’ll all be able to be together again. Whether you’re reading this from an EBHS classroom with actual classmates or under a fuzzy blanket with a hundred stuffed animals, we hope you have a happy and healthy school year! Visual by Austin Yang

Carley and Julia 3

President Trump has openly condemned bumped to the top of “must-read” lists, calling the looting and violence of the protests. Joe for a nationwide introspection into the Biden’s campaign has expressed the need to perpetuation of racism at an individual scale. crack down on . For many, like EBHS Junior Dionna Caldwell, it For Senior Model United Nations member is long overdue. Michael Shen, such arguments will only “If someone has said something to offend “make American politics more you or make you uncomfortable, make them uncooperative” going forward. Reform, aware,” Caldwell said as advice to other people Shen said, “must be embraced—not of color. “If you don’t correct or inform them, politicized—by both sides, if society is to they won’t be aware that what they’re doing change.” isn’t okay and they’ll continue.” Aside from protests, Floyd’s death has But for Caldwell, change should begin on a provided an impetus for visible social change. much smaller scale: more so than anything else, In many states, Confederate monuments she said, individual consciousness will be truly have been taken down. NASCAR banned the imperative to progress. Confederate flag. Police use of neck “Be willing to learn and do research on the restraints has been banned or restricted in struggles and what other people go through,” many cities. Books like Robin DiAngelo’s she said. “Doing research and being able to step White Fragility and Ibram X. Kendi’s How to into someone else’s shoes just changes your be an Antiracist have been overall perspective.”

The State Press 4 Voter Fraud and the Divided American Society

by Aaron Tsui As the 2020 Presidential election fast approaches, the coronavirus continues to send shockwaves across the nation, giving NBC News rise to a surge of voters interested in mail-in President Donald J. Trump speaks in Wilmington, North Carolina ______ballots and, in turn, ongoing questions about Despite the recent miscounts, according to the likelihood of voter fraud this November. the non-profit Electronic Registration Legally, all states should have a system Information Center, officials identified only 372 that prevents one from casting an absentee possible cases of fraudulent voting, which is vote and an in-person vote. However, the .0025% of the 14.6 million votes cast by mail in nation remains divided as to whether mail-in the 2016 and 2018 general elections. voting opens up the potential for fraud. Even so, in fear of a mail-in voting fraud, “The voter fraud issue, along with the President Trump also suggested cutting the global pandemic and the racial injustice federal allocations of the United States Postal protests going on around the country, have Service (USPS), triggering equal outcries of led to a divide in the country’s fundamental support and outrage for the President. and most important interests,” junior “[Cutting federal funds to] the USPS will Siddharth Srinivasan, a student in the continue to divide the country because people, Institute of Political and Legal Education especially those from poorer communities, will (IPLE), said. not receive paychecks, medicine, and other President suggested on important mail,” senior Pranay Bhatt, a senior September 2 to the people of North Carolina member of Model United Nations, said. But to vote by mail as well as in-person to ensure others fear that an unfair election could be that their votes are properly counted this imminent. November. One month earlier, on August 2, As the COVID-19 pandemic, calls for racial it was revealed that a staggering 25 percent of justice, and the impending election create Brooklyn primary votes were invalid. In waves throughout the country, the political Kings County, more than 120,000 absentee disunity surrounding voter fraud has caused ballots were filed for—30,000 were turmoil on both ends of the spectrum. Given disqualified. On September 9, Georgia the extent of such divides, students and Secretary-of-State Brad Raffensperger politicians alike have come to accept that it will reported at least 1,000 instances of double take time and nothing short of a miracle for the voting in 100 counties in the state’s June and American people to become unified. August elections.

5 Remembering Chadwick played this character in multiple Marvel movies, including Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Boseman’s Legacy Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame, Boseman’s by Grace Wang and Sabrina Portnoy most iconic performance is his groundbreaking

On August 28th, the world lost a hero. portrayal of T’Challa in Black Panther. Surrounded by his family and loved ones, EBHS senior Abigail Lam, an avid Marvel fan, Chadwick Boseman, at 43, passed away after a said she “was at a loss for words at how well he four-year battle against colon cancer. In light portrayed the character when first watching the of his passing, fans, directors, actors, and film.” leaders came together to mourn this loss and reflect on the insurmountable impact that Boseman had on the film industry. Throughout his career, Boseman aimed to promote greater diversity and representation of people of color in Hollywood. One of his first roles was in the soap opera, All My

Children, where he played Reggie Dispatch Argus Montgomery. He was soon fired after raising Chadwick Boseman showing the iconic “Wakanda Forever” pose from the movie Black Panther concerns about the racial stereotypes given to ______the character by writers and producers. After Boseman’s performance in Black Panther was many years of playing small roles in television critically acclaimed—however, his take on King series and directing plays, Boseman landed the T’Challa had even deeper sentiments with the role of Jackie Robinson in 42, the 2013 film Black community. He became an icon for young about the legendary baseball player. It told the children who had a superhero that looked exactly inspirational story of the first Black athlete to like them. The iconic “Wakanda Forever” salute play in . Boseman’s has become synonymous with the celebration of incredible performance was widely renowned, Black culture, something that Boseman had even gaining praise from Rachel Robinson, the spent his entire acting career working to widow of Jackie Robinson, for his work in the promote. role. The movie was a box office success, Beyond the big screen, Boseman also worked having the highest-grossing debut for any to help uplift and inspire younger generations. baseball movie, which thrust Boseman into the During his time playing the superhero Black spotlight. Panther, he would visit kids in hospitals, as St. After playing a few more roles, including Jude Children’s Research Hospital revealed, James Brown in Get On Up, Boseman was cast bringing toys when meeting the patients. With as T’Challa, or Black Panther, after signing a these visits, Boseman, an inspiration to so many five-picture deal with Marvel in 2016. While he of these kids, brought them hope, joy, and a once 6

in a lifetime chance to meet a superhero. The Bears are “Back”

by Devin Hecht and Mara Zaki Every September, students gear up for the inevitable: back-to-school season. But this year, things are a little different. East Brunswick has decided to approach this new school year with the Restart & Recovery plan, which includes the choice between hybrid and fully remote

E! Online learning. A few weeks before school, students Chadwick Boseman meeting with and bringing toys for kids with cancer and their parents chose which option was best ______for them, resulting in a mix of hybrid and Boseman’s struggle with colon cancer remote learners. shocked the nation, especially as it was a battle For some students, the decision to participate that he chose to keep private. However, his in hybrid classes was made due to their passing also brought attention to the quiet struggles with remote learning. Adrian Sorice, a battles that many face with terminal and sophomore, felt that distance learning made chronic illnesses daily, as well as the racial him “very irritable because it was new and disparities regarding healthcare that often frustrating.” Despite this, most students result in late-stage colon cancer diagnoses at understand the possibility of going exclusively earlier ages. In light of this tragedy, many virtual if COVID-19 cases in NJ increase. doctors are also spreading more information Senior Dylan Lazar wouldn’t be surprised, about cancer screenings, especially in younger stating that he would be “completely fine with individuals. going fully online” if such a situation were to Ananya Chandrashaker, a junior at EBHS, occur. reflected on Boseman’s impact, saying that “he Though most students must learn virtually was fighting his own battle, and was a hero to some capacity this year, many are still both on the screen and in real life.” worried that it will be detrimental to their Throughout his life, Chadwick Boseman education and high school experience. Lazar aimed to make a beneficial impact on the opted for a hybrid schedule to “make a world with his many talents, and in countless connection with some of [his] teachers and ways, he did. He fought against racial classmates.” Many sophomores, concerned that stereotypes, promoted diversity in Hollywood, they will miss out on the EBHS experience, felt became an inspiration for generations to the same way. come, and showed the world what it meant to “I feel like I missed out on some of the be a true hero. opportunities and excitement that comes with 7 entering the high school as a sophomore,” said school just yet,” said senior Enya sophomore Caleb Sullivan. Madurawala, another fully remote learner. Though hybrid learning is different from the Her concerns are similar to Annie’s: usual EBHS experience, students who opt to go having a sibling and working parents means hybrid are able to get to know their teachers in going to school is a risk. But she also noted person, making the option for in-person that it is important not to “shame or education extremely important and beneficial to disapprove of kids doing hybrid,” because some students. “efficient child care” and different learning On the other hand, most remote learners feel needs have to be considered to provide the that going back to school is not a viable option. most effective education for everyone. Annie Guo, a fully virtual senior, pointed out In times like these, it is easy to be negative the now growing number of COVID-19 cases in about the uncertainty and change happening New Jersey. As of September 13, NJ reported in East Brunswick as well as the world at 196,337 total COVID cases and a rate of large. However, many students feel it is now transmission of 1.07, indicating the outbreak is more than ever crucial to view this situation still expanding. Guo knew “kids could be under a positive lens. As a high school vulnerable to the disease” and was afraid that community, we have the power to band being sent to school would in turn bring together and help each other. We are the COVID-19 back home to her parents and sister. Bears, and we can get through anything as She is not alone in having this fear. long as we stick by one another. So let’s keep “I don’t feel very safe about going back to on keeping on and forever be EB Strong.

Visual by Hannah Junn 8

agreed. “There needs to be more time in order to safely analyze side effects,” Das said. Although no candidate has completed the by Carson He and Aaron Zhu trial process, President Trump said that a As the coronavirus continues to ravage the vaccine could be available before the end of the globe, scientists are scrambling to produce year, raising multiple concerns about the effects an effective vaccine. of rushing vaccine production. In response, Currently, there are three companies nine leading biopharmaceutical companies, conducting Phase Three clinical trials in the including the three aforementioned, issued a US: Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca. joint pledge to thoroughly vet their vaccines in Pfizer, leading the race, could become the order to restore public confidence. first company to seek regulatory approval for As for right now, the World Health its candidate. Meanwhile, the Trump Organization and COVID-19 expert Dr. Administration announced a deal with Anthony Fauci, along with many other medical Moderna in August to purchase 100 million professionals, believe that widespread doses of its candidate. However, AstraZeneca distribution and vaccination may not happen recently paused late-stage trials after a until mid to late 2021. participant developed an unexplained illness. A Return to Sports at EBHS

by Minta Caune and Ben Kim

Like most EBHS events, this year’s fall sports

season has been impacted by COVID-19.

Fox Business Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca are the three companies leading the vaccine race in the U.S.

______

“Having a physician as a mom, I know that the vaccine can impact everyone’s life,”

EBHS student Mateen Abbasi said. “[But] as much as I’d like to return to my daily lifestyle, I’d rather it come later because of multiple health concerns which may arise if the vaccine is not fully developed.”

Sam Lederman Barenya Das, a junior whose father EB Girls Varsity soccer players pose for a selfie after practice researches COVID-19 in his laboratory, ______

9 Rather than starting near the beginning of Senior captain and starting quarterback the school year, the first games of the season Zach Zebro noted, “I think that with everything were pushed back until October 2nd as per going on, our main priority is staying safe… NJSIAA guidelines. The season is set to end with that said, we have high expectations for by the first week of December with no GMC this year and we can't let our current situation postseason tournaments. Another major slow us down.” change is that indoor fall sports, like The fall season is going to be like no other, gymnastics and girls volleyball, have been and it's important that the teams maintain the moved to a new season which will happen same attitude as Lederman and Zebro to handle after the winter season. Over the summer, the unprecedented circumstances and have many sports were able to practice into late successful seasons. August. NBA Players Protest When asked about summer training, returning girls’ varsity soccer player Sam Shooting of Jacob Blake Lederman, a junior, was proud to say she felt by Minta Caune and Ben Kim “all of the girls worked really hard to make After a summer of racial tension, the court the best out of these tough times and prepare became a platform for NBA players to protest for the season”. racial injustice this August. On the backs of As for the football program, they will have their jerseys, many of the players chose to put their season opener against J.P. Stevens on phrases such as “Justice Now” and “Say Their October 2nd, according to TAPinto East Names.” The NBA courts were painted with Brunswick. This will lead into a six-game “Black Lives Matter” in support of the regular season. Currently, 500 fans are movement. permitted with social distancing measures in The NBA Playoffs began on August 17, 2020. place. Days later, on August 23, Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The video sparked anger and frustration across the nation and led players in the NBA Bubble to take action. The first team to take a stand was the , whose home arena is just 40 miles north of Kenosha. While their playoff opponent, the Orlando Magic, walked onto the court ahead of their Game 5 matchup, the Bucks remained in their locker room. The team

decided to boycott the fifth game of their EB Bears Football Twitter 2020 EBHS Varsity Football Captains. Thomas Wolfe, Matt playoff series. The two other playoff games ______Deguida, Zach Zebro (left to right) scheduled that night were also cancelled. Later 10

that evening, Bucks players George Hill and on August 26th, many NBA teams Sterling Brown shared a team statement that announced their arenas will be used for demanded action from lawmakers to hold the polling in November, and players urged police officers involved in the shooting people watching to vote in the coming accountable. The NBA’s cancellation of its election. games on August 26th led many other EBHS returning boys varsity basketball leagues, such as the NHL, MLS, and MLB, senior Jordan Williams stated, “I think it’s a to cancel their games as well. great thing that the players are using their platforms to take a stand against racial injustice and it's also great that they spread awareness about systemic racism as well.” While many people share Washington and Williams’ sentiments, the President and many other Americans feel that the NBA and other sports leagues should remain separated from politics. Others felt the players had the right to use their platform to support what they believe in. Nevertheless, players from the NBA have chosen to not remain silent and to fight for what they believe in.

Yahoo Sports Whether the NBA and other professional Milwaukee Bucks demand justice for Jacob Blake sports teams should continue to speak out on ______politics, however, is a tougher question--one When asked about his reaction to the that may take more time to answer. cancellation of NBA games, senior Tyler Washington responded, “I thought the NBA did a really good job of being the first league Testing in a Time of to take action and say enough is enough.” Pandemic Action from the NBA did not stop there. by Nikhita Iyengar Players and coaches from the 13 teams still in The SAT and ACT standardized tests are by the Bubble had a meeting on what to do far the most well known exams in America, next. Although perennial all-stars such as but in light of many exam cancellations due LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard did not to COVID-19 this spring and summer, a want to continue playing in the playoffs, the number of institutions have decided to go majority of players believed playing would be test optional for the 2020-2021 admissions more beneficial because they could have a cycle, allowing applicants to decide whether greater voice together. Following the protests or not to submit their SAT or ACT scores. 11

This fall, testing sites will be open to limited Keeping Standardized Tests capacities to enforce social distancing, but Eliminating standardized tests, on the other many colleges have nevertheless been forced hand, means that colleges will look at a to suspend the SAT or ACT score student’s GPA more critically. To take one of requirement. The debate still continues as to those components away would be “unfair for whether or not to keep the score requirement those in schools where achieving A’s is more in the application process—many colleges and difficult compared to easier schools where the universities nationwide are now unsure of curriculum is not as rigorous,” senior Michelle how to proceed in future cycles. Chung said. Going Test-Optional

Colleges who have gone test optional claim that the SAT and ACT are not good predictors of a student's college success, and that a high school GPA is a better indicator.

Although grading policies do differ from school to school, GPAs can gauge what type Colleges rethink using standardized test scores for admissions as the during and after the coronavirus pandemic ______of student a highschooler is over the course Numerous studies, according to The Atlantic, of four years, while standardized tests might show that a student’s GPA and standardized test show how well a student crammed for the scores together are the best indicator of success exam and reveal very little about their habits. at a university, not to mention an “added Many schools believe that a holistic approach insight” when assessing applicants. SAT and is better when selecting applicants by looking ACT scores also provide a way for colleges to at their activities, talents, and personality check for grade inflation. If a child’s score is rather than just focusing on one number. way higher than their GPA, a red flag can be Colleges have also considered dropping the raised. SAT or ACT requirement because they Additionally, doing well on the SAT and believe that these tests favor privileged ACT is a cost effective way to impress colleges students as opposed to kids from lower as opposed to taking expensive private lessons socioeconomic backgrounds. for an instrument or sport. Many local, state, “Standardized tests do a poor job of and regional programs offer merit-based measuring a student’s success...affluent scholarships that students with competitive families can supply their kids high quality scores can apply to. All juniors who take the resources, leading to a high score. However, PSAT are entered into the National Merit low income families are not able to provide Scholarship program for the opportunity to their children with the resources needed to receive college and corporate-sponsored do so,” senior Yoshna Rajendran said. These awards, among many others. Many students economic inequalities are making more and even view the SAT as a rite of passage. more colleges go test optional.

12 Is Time Running Out for TikTok? by Sabrina Portnoy and Grace Wang On August 6, President Trump signed an executive order to go into effect September 20 outlawing transactions between U.S. citizens Forbes Numerous U.S. companies have attempted to purchase TikTok and ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese-owned from its Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance parent company. TikTok is a popular ______short-form video app primarily used by Gen Z that Oracle and Walmart would have a joint 20 to produce video content ranging from humor percent stake in TikTok Global, a new U.S.-based to dancing to activism. While it’s unclear as to company that would control the app, and Trump what these “transactions” include, some believe reportedly gave the deal his “blessing.” However, that the ban will prevent users from following the announcement, there have been downloading the app. contradictory statements from Oracle and Kelly Tang, a junior at EBHS, said it’s Bytedance concerning what companies will own inconsiderate for the order to ban what “became how much of TikTok, and Trump has stated that everyone’s source of entertainment during if the app is not completely under U.S. control, quarantine.” then the deal will not be approved. For TikTok, There are rumors that President Trump is time is indeed ticking. attempting to ban TikTok due to the app’s growing number of political content creators. However, the president said that his attempt to ban the app is a matter of cybersecurity and concerns about censorship and the spread of Instagram: @ebhs.clarion disinformation. He, along with critics of the app, worry that the data it collects on its U.S. Email: users could end up in the hands of the Chinese [email protected] government.

“I do not think that Trump has a good Microsoft Teams: excuse for banning TikTok,” said junior Lillian nmsnhxj Love, when asked about the potential ban of her favorite social media platform. If you would like your club to be To prevent the ban, Microsoft offered to buy included in the calendar of The TikTok from ByteDance, but ByteDance Weekly by The Clarion, fill out reportedly rejected the offer on September 13. this form! Days later, according to CNN, it was announced https://forms.gle/jazB64gVXibTtk 2D6